I tried to smell the ball: Afridi

Soon after he was charged for ball tampering during the fifth one-dayer against Australia, Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi said all he was trying to do was to smell the ball while coach Intikhab Alam wondered why he was acting "like eating an apple".

Soon after he was charged for ball tampering during the fifth one-dayer against Australia, Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi said all he was trying to do was to smell the ball while coach Intikhab Alam wondered why he was acting "like eating an apple".

"I tried to smell it. There was some things on it that I tried to move," Afridi told ABC radio in his defence.

Afridi later pleaded guilty when he was charged by match referee Ranjan Madugalle with article 2.2.9 offence of ICC Code of Conduct for breaching Law 42.3 of the Laws of Cricket and was handed a ban of two Twenty20 Internationals.

"I don't know what happened to me that made me do such a mad thing. It was not right and I apolosise for my actions to everyone. What happened was very unfortunate and should not have happened. I have learnt from my mistake and will not repeat it again," he said.

Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam said Afridi's actions were unacceptable.

"It is unfortunate, he (Afridi) has accepted it that he should not have done it. It is unacceptable, it should not have happened -- I feel sorry for him, being a captain you should be above everything."

"It just happened, like he was eating an apple. I have no idea (what he was trying to achieve)."